College Prices are rising out of control, keeping many students from attaining higher education.
- The price of college in the United States has sextupled since 1985, equating to an average of $22,261 at public universities and $43,289 at private universities.
- The cost of college has risen more rapidly than the consumer price index. (See Fig. 1)
- The rate of college enrollment out of high school for college-qualified students of high-income backgrounds to be 84 percent, while only 67 percent for college-qualified students of middle-income backgrounds.
- In one survey of 14,500 university dropouts from fifteen different colleges, financial pressure was the most frequently claimed reason for dropping out.
Fig.1
Financial Aid and Loans exist, but are becoming less available and helpful.
Community college is an excellent option. Benefits of community college include:
- During the 1970s, the Pell Grant covered up to 84 percent of college costs, while only 34 percent by the end of the 20th century.
- Other need-based financial aid packages are becoming less gift-aid based and more loan and work-based.
- Students can take out loans, but put themselves at risk of falling deep into debt.
Community college is an excellent option. Benefits of community college include:
- Community college tuition costs less than one-half of public university tuition and less than one-tenth of private university tuition, and community college students do not have to worry about room and board, which can cost thousands of dollars.
- Many of the top-paying jobs in the United States only require an associate degree. Some of these include dental hygienists, radiation therapists, and nurses.
- Community college students have greater schedule flexibility and lighter course work allow a student more time to work while studying.
- As long as they maintain a respectable grade point average, community college students can usually transfer to a university and pursue the same bachelor’s degree as one who plans to spend four years at the university.
- Taking AP classes and receiving satisfactory scores on the AP exams.
- Enrolling in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
- Taking CLEP exams, which cost $72 each and can earn a student up to 12 credit hours per exam. Over 2,900 colleges award some CLEP credit.